Café Scientifique at the ICA Tues Sept 30th, 7pm Virulent Strain: Sars, ‘Flu and the Next Pandemic The world had a close shave this spring when a new virus emerged, hitting 32 countries, killing over 800 people and leaving behind it panic and whole populations hiding behind face masks. We were lucky that it was Sars and not influenza. What is it about the influenza virus which makes it so devastating, able to sweep the world wreaking destruction – and why was the Sars virus so relatively easily defeated? How are we preparing ourselves to combat the next pandemic? Is there anything we can do in the face of a virulently infectious virus? Could Sars re-emerge? And how – and why – do viruses jump from one animal to another? Tonight’s speaker is John Oxford, professor of virology of international renown, working at St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry. His research focuses on the genes responsible for influenza, HIV and other viruses, and he has co-authored over 250 scientific papers as well as being regularly featured in the national and international press. In the chair is Daniel Glaser, neuroscientist at UCL. TICKETS AND INFORMATION: www.cafescientifique.org 0207 930 3647 ********************************************************************** 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message: set psci-com nomail 2. To resume email from the list, send the following message: set psci-com mail 3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: leave psci-com 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk **********************************************************************